XXVII.

O! ADMIRAL HOSIER's GHOST,

was written by the ingenious author of LEONIDAS, on tbe taking of Porto Bello from the Spaniards by Admiral Vernon, Nov. 22. 1739.-The case of Hofer, which is berejo pathetically represented, was briefly this. In April, 1726, that commander was sent with a furong fleet into the Spanish Weft-Indies, to block up the galleons in the ports of that country, or should ihey presume to come out, to seize and carry them into England: be accordingly arrived at the Bastimentos near Porto Bello, but being restricted by his orders from obeying the dietates of his courage, lay inactive on that station until he became the jest of the Spaniards : he afterwards removed to Carthagena, and continued cruizing in these feas, till far the greater part of his men perished deplorably by the diseases of that unhealthy

climate. This brave man, seeing bis best officers and men thus daily swept away, his ships exposed to inevitable destruction, and himself made the sport of the enemy, is said to have died of a broken heart. See Smola

The following song is commonly accompanied with a Second Part, or Answer, which being of inferior merit, and appa. tently written by another hand, hath been rejected.

let's hift.

AS

S near Porto-Bello lying

On the gently swelling flood,
At midnight with streamers flying
Our triumphant navy rode ;

3

There

There while Vernon fate all-glorious

From the Spaniards' late defeat; And his crews with shouts victorious,

Drank success to England's fleet:

10

On a sudden fhrilly founding,

Hideous yells, and shrieks were heard ; Then each heart with fear confounding,

A fad troop of ghosts appear'd, All in dreary hammocks shrouded,

Which for winding-sheets they wore, And with looks by forrow clouded

Frowning on that hostile shore.

15

20

On them gleam'd the moon's wan lustre,

When the shade of Hosier brave
His pale bands was seen to muster

Rising from their watry grave :
O'er the glimmering wave he hy'd him,

Where the Burford * rear'd her fail,
With three thousand ghosts befide him,

And in groans did Vernon hail.

25

Heed, oh heed our fatal story,

I am Hofier's injur'd ghost,
You, who now have purchasd glory,
At this

pce

where I was loft!

Tho'

• The Admiral's pip.

Tho' in Porto-Bello's ruin

You now triumph free from fears, When you think on our undoing,

You will mix your joy with tears.

35

See these mournful spectres fweeping

Ghaftly o'er this hated wave,
Whose wan cheeks are ftain'd with weeping ;

These were English captains brave:
Mark those numbers pale and horrid,

Those were once my sailors bold,
Lo, each hangs his drooping forehead,

While his dismal tale is told.

I, by twenty fail attended,

Did this Spanish town affright; Nothing then its wealth defended But my

orders not to fight: Oh! that in this rolling ocean

I had caft them with disdain,
And obey'd my heart's warm motion

To have quell'd the pride of Spain !

45

For resistance I could fear none,

But with twenty fhips had done What thou, brave and happy Vernon,

Haft atchiev'd with fix alone.

50

VOL. II.

Аа

Then

Then the bastimentos never

Had our foul dishonour seen, Nor the sea the sad receiver

Of this gallant train had been.

55

60

Thus, like thee, proud Spain dismaying,

And her galleons leading home,
Though condemn'd for disobeying

I had met a traitor's doom,
To have fallen, my country crying

He has play'd an English part,
Had been better far than dying

Of a griev'd and broken heart.

Here the bastimentos viewing

We recal our shameful doom,
And our plaintive cries renewing,

Wander thro’ the midnight gloom.

O'er these waves for ever mourning

Shall we roam depriv'd of rest,
If to Britain's fhores returning

You neglect my just request;
After this proud foe fubduing,

When your patriot friends you see,
Think on vengeance for my ruin,

And for England sham'd in me.

85

THE END OF BOOK THE THIRD.

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